Final answer:
The most lasting impact of the Phoenicians was their creation of the alphabet, which simplified writing and made literacy more accessible, influencing Greek and Roman writing and thereby shaping modern European alphabets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most lasting impact of the Phoenicians was the creation of the alphabet. The Phoenician alphabet was a significant advancement in writing systems as it represented sounds with characters, making it easier for a wider range of people to become literate. Unlike the symbolic nature of Egyptian hieroglyphics or Sumerian cuneiform, the syllabic nature of the Phoenician writing system allowed for reduced complexity and size. This led to a significant cultural impact, as it enabled not only merchants but also the general populace to record transactions and communicate efficiently without the need for a specialized scribal class. The Phoenician alphabet influenced the Greek and later the Roman alphabets, which in turn are the ancestors of the alphabets used in most European languages today, including English. Its creation marked a transformation in literacy and record-keeping that has resonated throughout history.